February 2014 job growth numbers were higher than expected, but still lower than February 2013. Temp agencies led the way last month, creating 24,400 of the 175,000 new jobs reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Other service sector employers contributed heavily to the totals.
Here’s a clear-eyed look at the numbers. Towards the end of the article the author reports the numbers for underemployed and those not counted in the official unemployment numbers and the more somber “rate of labor underutilization” emerges at 12.6%.  Although that’s down from 14.3% in February 2013, it is likely a more realistic assessment of the economy’s performance that the rosy 6.7% official unemployment rate.